Clasp.



4 No. 63l,754. v Patented Aug. 22; [899.1

' T. SANDERS;

CLASP.

(Application tiled Jan. 6, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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QZZZF/fe UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SANDERS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN H. RODEIVALD, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,754, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed January 6, 1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SANDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps which are specially adapted for use in connecting suspenderends and other supporters to trousers and other garments, although it may be used for many other purposes where two parts are to be detachably connected, such as for fastening window-curtains to their supports and the like.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a clasp applied to connect suspenderends to the trousers-band, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention in operative position; Fig. 2, a front view of same; Fig. 3, a section on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an end view of the lower or larger end, showing the jaws closed in solid lines and in open position by dotted lines; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3, showing a slightly-modified construction.

Like letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The case, which supports and contains the remaining parts of the clasp, comprisesaback A, having the two integral sides A and a continued and laterally expanded portion 0., which forms one of the jaws of the clasp. This jaw has marginal teeth a 'bent at right angles to the plane of the jaw.

b is the mate to the jaw a. It is of the same shape and size and has the teeth biwhich fit into the spaces between the teeth 0?. It also has the stem B, which is about half of the length of the space inclosed by the sides A and is hinged to the extension B. The ends of the hinge-pin c are projected through openings in the sides A. Between the pin 0 and the back A is a second pin cl, to which a strap-spring D is fastened in any suitable manner, here shown as secured by forming a transverse bend or corrugation, to engage the pin. The ends of the spring are bent up against, the plates B and B to press the free ends of those plates out into the open posi Serial No. 701 ,316. (No model.)

tions of the jaws unless restrained by some positive means. The outer end of the plate B has teeth 19 This plate works in con j unction with the adjacent end of the back A to form a top clasp.

I will now describe the mechanism by which the jaws of the clasp are brought together and locked, and as the same means is duplicated for both clasps it will only be necessary to describe that for one of them.

Slots 0, are formed through the sides A A, said slots being near the hinge-pin c and terminating near the ends of said sides. The slots stand diagonally to the back A, the inner end being the greater distance from the back. Sliding in the pair of slots is a pin or shaft E, having the knobs c on each end to move it by and to prevent its withdrawal from the slots. By moving this shaft out or toward the lower end of the slots the contact of the shaft with the plate B presses the plate in and forces the jaw b down onto the jaw'a, clamping any article which happens to be inserted between them. As a locking means I provide a series of notches a on the outside edge of the slot, into which the shaft is pressed and held by the action of t-he'spring D. The opposite end of the frame is provided with the slots a, with notches a and has the pin E in like manner as just described, except that the slots slope in the opposite direction from those below.

In the drawings, F represents the suspender-end, which is caught in the upper clasp, and G the garment, to which the lower clasp is fastened.

By the use of my invention the annoyance of breaking out the buttonhole of the suspender-end or of pulling oif the button of the trousers is avoided.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the back 2 has a slot a through which the suspender-end 2 is threaded and which enables the clasp to be placed at any desired height on the end to regulate the length of the suspender.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a double clasp, a jaw for each clasp hinged together, sides between which the jaws 2 eamse ported by the sides, a pair of plates hinged v to the pin, said plates being on opposite sides of the pin and forming the movable jaws of a double clasp, a spring to press the jaws out into open position said jaws having teeth as shown, the sides between which the jaws are pivoted having diagonal slots as described and shown, said slots having notched outer sides, and pins or shafts bearing-against the jaws on the outside thereof and sliding in the slots, as and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 31st day of December, A. D. 1898.

THOMAS SANDERS.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH A. .MINTURN, CARL SCHLEGEL. 

